Overview
In the demanding environment of offshore Energy work, injuries can occur unexpectedly and require immediate medical attention. During a standard shift, a male offshore worker suffered an injury when his forearm was pinned between a chain and the Direct Acting Tensioner commonly found on drill ships, compressing it for nearly 20 minutes before he could be extricated. Through careful onsite and offsite healthcare management, significant costs associated with emergency evacuation were avoided, showcasing the efficiency and expertise of our medical teams.
Problem
A crush injury to the forearm is a serious problem due to potential limb-threatening complications when muscles are squeezed for long periods, cutting off the blood supply. The critical decision for a medical team is whether to medevac the patient reactively, involving highly complex procedures and specialised teams at high cost and risk, or to manage the case on-site. This requires thoughtful engagement between the on- and off-site medical teams to fully understand the risks and benefits of the available healthcare management options. The right decision necessitates experience and a close, trusting relationship between the onboard and Response Centre Medical professionals and the organisation.
Solution
Our onboard medical team extricated and quickly assessed the patient, stabilised them and addressed their pain management. Our Response Centre healthcare professionals recommended an on-site observation for the life-threatening compartment syndrome every two hours. This was done after careful evaluation of the patient for physical and symptomatic neurologic and vascular findings. Evaluation throughout the night every two hours indicated a stable patient without signs of compartment syndrome. The patient was disembarked by routine crew change and transferred to orthopaedic consultants onshore the next day. The onshore medical consultation revealed no compartment syndrome, and the patient was deemed able to return to work within a few days following the injury.
Impact
The patient avoided an unnecessary night medevac, and the organisation avoided the activation and escalation expense along with the high cost of a night flight, saving approximately 75,000 USD. This showcases the effectiveness of our offshore healthcare solution and demonstrates the critical role of our medical professionals in the United States in ensuring the health and safety of offshore workers by managing complex injuries safely and considering all inherent medical and financial risks to the patient, crew, and organisation.